An Expert Guide to Digital Tidying
You’ve tidied your home, embraced a more mindful routine and radically changed your lifestyle. Now, nothing can stop you from tidying every aspect of your life — except possibly the thousands of unorganized files on your laptop. Digital clutter is real!
The KonMari Method™ and Marie’s rules of tidying gained international fame because they’re universally applicable to every space we inhabit. But just like tidying a garage or packing a suitcase calls for a slightly different process than tidying a closet, digital decluttering requires special thought and care.
We spoke with Amanda Jefferson, an early graduate of our KonMari Consultant certification program and founder of Indigo Organizing, who specializes in using the KonMari Method for digital tidying. Below, you’ll find her best advice for tackling computer files, smartphone apps and even the dreaded email inbox, the KonMari way.
“Does it spark joy?” still applies – just in a different way.
Before beginning a digital decluttering project, set the right mindset. Unlike other KonMari Method categories (such as clothes or sentimental items), it can feel hard to say, “Yes, these emails spark joy.” Jefferson offers a subtle shift to help.
“When it comes to files, what sparks joy is having them organized and tidy, so you can find what you need when you need it,” says Jefferson. “Your rental lease agreement might not spark joy, per se, but it will definitely spark joy to be able to find it easily when you’re deciding whether you’re allowed to paint your walls hot pink.”
Plan to tidy by category, but the order is your choice.
Tidying digital files diverges slightly from the KonMari Method. While the Method suggests you tidy by category in a specific order, Jefferson rightly points out that digital files don’t fit neatly into the categories you’d use for your home or another physical space.
“I often ask my clients, ‘What does your brain want?’ she says. “Sometimes, that means starting with the thing that’s bothering you the most – that thing you’ve been itching to tackle – or it might mean starting with whatever feels easiest – that thing that will give you a quick win.”
It’s also important to make the categories you choose digestible, so you don’t get overwhelmed. “Whatever you choose, you want to start small, in bite-sized sessions, like tackling your email inbox in productive, 25-minute chunks,” she adds.
Set the mood.
When you think of your inbox or digital files, it’s probably safe to say that you don’t feel excited. But Jefferson says there are ways to make the digital decluttering experience more pleasant. You control how you show up.
“Find ways to make it more fun,” she says. “Choose a beautiful background for your laptop’s desktop and your phone’s background. Maybe light a candle or incense or put on some upbeat music while you’re powering through those folders.”
Digital tools and apps can provide organizing support.
When Marie tidies a home, she uses baskets, bins, and even recycled containers to group like with like—pens in one cup, sweaters in one basket, etc. The same technique can help you tidy your tech once and for all.
“My favorite tool for organizing my files is Dropbox,” says Jefferson. “And I can’t live without 1Password, which securely keeps all of my passwords, important documents, etc. in one place. I also always recommend finding a good task management app like Todoist, paired with a paper planner, like the Balance Bound Planner or the Full Focus Planner.”
Your tech stack might look different, but exploring potential solutions that fit your needs can help.
Let go of what’s no longer serving.
When tidying your home the KonMari Way, you discard first – a thoughtful act of letting go that is highly encouraged and celebrated. Jefferson says that archiving rather than discarding has its place in digital tidying.
“With the home, it’s sometimes easier to see the light at the end of the tunnel – there are a finite number of things that you need to tidy,” she says, “Digital spaces can feel endless. Endless emails, photos, files… To avoid the overwhelm, I love advising my clients to get a bit ruthless and archive mass amounts of data at once. That’s the main distinction between organizing digital files and KonMari-ing the home. I would never recommend that someone “archive” a bunch of physical stuff in a spare room or storage unit!”
When in doubt, archive more, not less.
“Never be afraid to ruthlessly archive. It’s not only ‘allowed’ but encouraged!” she says. “You can look in the archives if you need to find it again.”
